Explosive Device Found in White Plains Leads to Shelter-in-Place Order

On Monday morning, an explosive device was found near the entrance of a small apartment building in White Plains, New York. This incident, which startled residents of a usually quiet neighborhood, prompted a shelter-in-place order after they reported hearing a loud bang around 4:30 a.m.

Initially, locals thought the noise was caused by a malfunctioning transformer. However, when police arrived at Odell Street following numerous calls, they couldn’t find any signs of damage in the area. It was only later that they discovered the suspicious object.

Authorities confirmed it was a small explosive device, which led to the immediate shelter-in-place directive for the local residents. Additional units and the Westchester County Hazardous Devices Division were called in to secure the area and render the device safe.

White Plains Public Safety Commissioner Wade Hardy mentioned that although the device was indeed explosive, it lacked the capability for remote detonation.

Local resident Yulissa Severino recounted her experience, stating she had heard two loud bangs on the same night, which felt alarmingly similar to sounds she’s encountered in recent weeks in her neighborhood.

Interestingly, just a few weeks prior, police had responded to a similar noise complaint in the same area, but found nothing at that time. On Monday, however, Severino woke up to see officers surrounding the building and saw two men being taken away in handcuffs from the apartment linked to the explosive.

Severino reflected on the situation, saying, “Sometimes I thought someone was going to blow up the blocks. It was really loud, like some sort of experiment. With everything happening in the world, you start to wonder.”

Currently, police are investigating and have identified two individuals as “persons of interest.” The White Plains Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, with support from federal law enforcement agencies, will lead this inquiry.

Officials expressed relief that there were no injuries or damage from the incident. They reassured the public that, as of now, there seems to be no threat, and residents can return to their regular activities although some roads may remain temporarily closed. “We understand the concerns raised by this morning’s events,” they added, highlighting safety as their primary focus.